Flower-holder.



PATENTED JAN. 10, 1905.

P. GOMMEL.

FLOWER HOLDER,

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 4. 1904.

UNITE STATES Patented January 10,1905.

PETER GOMMEL, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

FLOWER-HOLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 779,924, dated January 10, 1905. Application filed August 4, 1904. Serial No. 219,549.

To a whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, PETER GoMMEL,a citizen of the United States, residing at Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flower-Holders; and Ido hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in flower-holders, and has special reference to holders which are adapted to receive and hold in place cut flowers of various kinds.

The invention is applicable to graves or other places where it is desirable to hold out flowers upon the surface of the earth in a firm position.

The invention consists in certain novel constructions, combinations, and arrangements of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of aflower-holder embodying the features of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the base of the holder when the said holder is made in two parts. Fig.

3 is a side elevation of'said base portion, a por-,

tion being broken away at the center to show the means of securing the cross-bars at the base together and the holder being shown in an inverted position above the base in dotted lines; and Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the holder in which the securing-prongs or depending points are fastened rigidly to the cup or flower-receptacle.

The device forming the subject-matter of the present invention is designed for holding cut flowers in various places, and especially in localities where the flowers are to be left upon the groundas, for instance, in cemeteries or the like. I am aware that devices of this character have been patented heretofore; but they have been so made that when flowers are placed therein they could be easily blown or knocked over. In the present invention the device contemplated is provided with a num ber of ground-engaging points, which are spread apart a sufficient distance to obtain a firm hold upon the ground.

Referring to the drawings, in which I have shown a practical embodiment of the invention, 1 indicates a flower receptacle or cup, 2 a base, and 3 depending ground-engaging points carried by the base. l/Vhile the groundengaging points may be rigidly secured to and normally carried by the flower-cup, I preferably form the holder in two parts, the base 2 being separable from the cup or receptacle 1. In the drawings I have shown a simple manner of constructing the base when made separate from the cup, the said base being made up of a circular band 4:, to the lower edge of which is secured a series of crossbars 5. Two of such cross-bars are usually sufficient for the desired purpose, and these bars may be soldered, welded, or otherwise secured to the lower edge of the band I and may also be secured to each other where they cross at the center by a rivet or bolt, as 6, or by soldering, welding, or the like. The outer ends of the bars 5 are turned downwardly and pointed to form the ground-engaging barbs or points 3. By turning the points 3 downwardly at or beyond the edge of the base 4: the said points will be an ample distance apart to insure the obtaining of a firm hold upon the ground when forcing into the same, such hold being sutficient to prevent the tipping of the flower-holder or the blowing over of the same, especially when the cup or receptacle 1 is filled with flowers.

Of course it will be understood that the parts of the base may be formed of a single piece of material or may be cast in one piece instead of being made of a number of pieces, as above described.

The receptacle 1 may be made of the same diameter from end to end, but is preferably slightly flared from the bottom upwardly, the lower end of the cup thus provided being a little smaller than the inner diameter of the base, so that it may be readily set therein. The re ceptacle 1 when not used for holding flowers may, if desired, be inverted on the base, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 3. In this instance the open end of the receptacle or cup is placed over the ring of the base, so that the holder may be more or less protected from the weather and water will not collect and stand in the same. Of course it will be understood that the holder,with its base,can be readily removed from the ground at any time for placing it in a new position or for putting it to one side entirely. When the device is used in cemeteries, however, it is usually preferable to permit the same to remain upon the grave.

As above intimated, the ground-engaging portion of the holder may be fixedly secured to the cup or flower-receiving receptacle. In Fig. L I have illustrated such a construction, the cup 7 in this instance being provided with downwardly-extending points or barbs 8, which are rigidly fastened to the bottom of the cup 7. These points 8 may be formed by turning downwardly the ends of cross-bars 9 and sharpening such ends, the said bars being riveted, soldered, or otherwise fastened to the bottom of the cup. Of course I desire to have it understood that I contemplate forming the cup and the depending barbs or points 8 of a single piece of material, if preferred, the said article being cast or otherwise formed Without departing in the least from the spirit of the invention. As illustrated in the drawings, the points 3 0r 8 are preferably turned downwardly a little distance outside the periphery of the base 2 or the lower end of the cup 7, so that a broad firm bearing upon the surface of the ground will be secured.

It will be evident that the cup or holder 1 can be made of any desired height or diameter for adapting it to various kinds of flowers which it may be desired to hold in place.

The cup 1 may be made with or without perforations, as desired, for if it is not intended to keep the flowers in water it will make no difference as to whether the cup is imperforate or not. Usually I construct the cup of imperforate material, so that water can be placed therein for preserving cut flowers in a fresh condition for a considerable length of time.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A flower-holder comprising a cup portion, a base for holding the same comprising a ring portion and cross-bars secured to the lower edge thereof, the ends of said bars being turned downwardly to form ground-engaging points.

2. A flower-holder comprising a liquid-receptacle and a base therefor, holding means for the receptacle comprising horizontally-arranged bars secured to the base, their outer ends being turned downwardly outside the circumference of the receptacle and thus forming broad ground-engaging means for preventing the tipping of the holder.

3. As a new article of manufacturea flowerholder comprising a cup portion having a base, and cross-bars secured to the lower edge of said base, the ends of said bars being turned downwardly to form ground-engaging points.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

PETER GOMIWIEL.

WVitnesses:

CHARLES T. RAU, GEO. V. KoNDoLF. 

